“It’s pretty clear the Russians are behind this. We’ve been watching them applying the usual propaganda and disinformation operations to undermine and discredit Latvia for some time now. And my colleagues in Lithuania and Estonia report the same. So far, so normal. Or at least, our version of normal. But in the last week, the leaders of the Latvian Russian Union have stepped up their activity in advance of tomorrow’s demonstration. We know they’ve been talking to a Russian who’s recently arrived in country. He’s new and we’ve been watching him, of course. However, we could do with your team’s support in monitoring tomorrow’s demonstration. All indications are that it will get out of control. I’m appointing a liaison officer from my service to work with you. She’s outside waiting. I’ll introduce you now and you can get to work straight away.”

Bērziņš pressed a switch on his intercom. “Please ask Marina to come in.”

The door opened and a stunning woman walked in.

Morland looked her in the eye as coolly as he could. She was a couple of inches short of six foot, long ash-blonde hair, high cheekbones and radiating physical fitness. He’d have put money on her being a distance runner or a cross-country skier. Or both.

Her eyes held his gaze in turn; greeny blue, steady and appraising him without any hint of embarrassment.

Morland looked away and caught the humor in Bērziņš’s eyes. The old fox knew full well the effect Marina would have. But Morland was not going to give him the satisfaction of a reaction.

“Marina Krauja, meet Captain Tom Morland. Tom, I’ve told the Service to give you all the support you need. Miss Krauja is your point of contact and will work with you while you are in Latvia.”

She extended her hand. “Delighted to meet you,” she said, in perfect English.

“Tom Morland. How do you do.” He shook hands with her before turning back to Bērziņš. “Sir, we’ll head back to Ādaži now. I’ll brief the Permanent Joint Headquarters from there and we’ll put together a plan.” He turned to Krauja. “Shall we get going?”

“Captain, can I suggest we take my car?” said Krauja. “That way we can talk. And we’ll need to be independent.”

“Good call,” agreed Morland, aware that honors were currently even and that neither of them had acceded command to the other. If Bērziņš was enjoying the duel, he kept his face impassive as he turned back to the pile of paperwork on his desk.